The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-28

H Reagan in the House of Representatives
Billn has lived all his life in the pine woods OF
Henderson county, Texas He never sew gas
burner In his neghborhood. Pine knots and
taIiow dips are good enough for Bills vicinity,
and there not two-story house within fifty
miles of where his ranshackie cabin sits on
stills. There ten big counties in the
gressional district. When the convention met
N Palestine last sum ner, every one of them had
candidate, and ali she aspirants
we're invited to address the delegates.
his arms around, he gathered in the piney woods
az the first word. His and his
gestures were never learned from books of elocu-
hon. His competitors we're well-dressed men,
some of them with a better reputation for states
manshp Bill had come on his mule from
Henderson county. He had his pants in his
boots. He wore butternut shirt and his hands
were biz enough to cover a wide expanse ef terri
tory. Bill told the boys how he had been
brought up TO raise cotton, white pine sticks.
chew tobacco and hunt raZor-b backed nogs or the
Texas persuasion. He said he was no states
man, bus ne wanted the Office and wanted 1t bad,
and above all things be thought there onght to
be one genuine home made Texan in Washing
ton. Then the convention howied, but
they howied louder and longer when Bill
shouted out that when he went TO Washington
he would be the same old Henderson-cou
Bill Martin as before. and would GO in the same
clothes that he then wore They turned right
around, and after emptying the other candi-
dates out of the convention, they nominated
Biii, and be was elected by big majority.
Nothing was heard of him until a few days ago
since last summer. week ago he appeared at
the little railroad station in Palestine in his old
pinty- wood toCgery. and started for the
national capital He had never ridden twenty
miles a railroad in his life before. He carried
grip-sack, for he had nothing put in one.
He made a speech before he left. and said that
il Congress did like his ways and clothes
''thev could be darned, for Bill Martin never
would change
The other Texas members in Washington had
taken measures to capture Bill. Congressman
Grain, from the Galveston district, and Roger
NaAn WA f0h An m al a
more and corralled him. Bill fought hard
against their suggestions. but finally consented
TO have his hair cut They kept him in Balti-
more three DAYS. and got his pants out of his
boots. On THANKSGIVING day they bought him
a suit of store clothes and emptied his but
ternut coverings into the cellar. That night
they brought him this city, and after warn
ing him against the wiles and dangers of the
place, him in hs at Wizards,
and thought he safe. Then the Hon. Mr..
Martin blew ont the gas When he had
cred consciousness ami himself again, he
made solemn oath that no such death-trap
should catch him again, and early this morning
he left the hotel to find place of rest where
only candles burned. And the dainty Mr..
Cram and the well-dressed Mills are hard after
him. for old Bill Martin has only commenced
the sensations he will create il Washington.
When. he left the hotel to seek another board
ingpace. he forgot his coat and went in bis
shlrt-sleeves. and the other Texas members
want lasso him.